ECON 101 FOR THE LIBS: What business owners mean when they say they’re unwilling to invest during this current economic climate (HINT: It rhymes with un-sir-ten-tee))

THOMAS SOWELL: “...numerous and unpredictable government interventions create many unknowns, including “unknown unknowns.”

The quick fix that got both Democrats and Republicans off the hook with a temporary bipartisan tax compromise, several months ago, leaves investors uncertain as to what the tax rate will be when any money they invest today starts bringing in a return in another two or three or ten years. It is known that there will be taxes but nobody knows what the tax rate will be then.

Some investors can send their investment money to foreign countries, where the tax rate is already known, is often lower than the tax rate in the United States and — perhaps even more important — is not some temporary, quick-fix compromise that is going to expire before their investments start earning a return.”